Current-distributing apparatus.



0. N. BERGMANN. CURRENT DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. I910- v Patented Nov. '30, 1915.

S HEETSf'SHEET v. M

IIIII mm a m bwezzax c. N. BERGMANN.

CURRENT DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

7 APPLICATION HLED OCT. 28, ISIO.

1,162,553. Patented Nov. 30,1915.

: 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

xmeans for mounting and distributing the- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN N. BERGMANN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR {)F ONE-HALF TO CARL SGHUSTER, OF BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CURRENT-DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t N 30, 1 15 I Application filed October 28, 1910. Serial No. 589,637.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRrs'rLANN. BERG- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have intrical conductors for panel" boards and switch boards, or other similar apparatus.

The object of the invention isto provide various branch conductors from the main bus bar or other connections, for distributing the currents therefrom to utilizing de vices as switches, etc., to reduce the number of joints and connections toa minimum, to provide continuous branch connections to the points of distribution or utilization, to

insure ample contact with the main and.

branch conducting elements, and to facilitate and simplify the construction and distribution of the currents without loss, together with other features of advantage.

Different forms ofthe invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation, showing a series of continuous conductors connected with the main conductors and to a series of switch blades, mounted on an insulating base. Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal section of the construction shown in Fig. 1, on the line II. II. thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view indicated by the line III. III. of Fig. 1. Fig. l is-an enlarged horizontal sectional view showing the connections through the insulating base, Simila 1- to the construction shown at the right hand side of Fig. 2, and'indicated by the section line IV. IV. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a'perspe'ctive view showing the several, connections in assembled position as mounted onthe insulating base. Fig.6 is a view similar to Fig. lshowing a modified arrangement, utilizing lapped extensions and supplemental feed connections. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the construction shown in Fig. 6 indicated by the line VII. VII. thereof. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7. I I i 2 represents thebase of theswitch board,

distributing board or other apparatus, upon which thedifferent conducting elements are mounted, of any suitable form or construc tion and of insulating material as slate, etc.

'3, 4:, represent pairs 'of blades constituting contact elements for circuit-establishing devices, as the switch blades 5 of ordinary knife switches, whereby to make and break connection between the contact terminals 3 or a, with the branch conductor 6, as will be readily understood. Blades 3 and '1, in pairs, extend directly through the insulating base 2, being mounted therein by any suitable securing means as embracing frames 7 and preferably spaced apart by spacers 8, whereby to maintain the, blades in fixed continuous parallelism, for the desired length and extending outwardly beyond the base at each side'thereof, as shown. The ends of such blades at the back of the base are preferably at a uniform distance therefrom, whereby to provide uniformity of length outwardly from the base-to the point where they are connected with the terminal of each particular conductor 9 or 10. Said conductors 9 and 10 as shown, are arranged in series or groups, of any number necessary according to the number. of switches and for convenience of arrangement and economy of space the series of conductors 9 are arranged above the series of conductors 10, the terminals of each of series 9 being brought directly down and those of series 10 directly back, to connect with the rear ends of ter A minal blades 3 and 4 respectively, on the same plane. Such connections are made by fitting the ends of the conductor bars 9 and 10 between -the ends of the contact blades. 3

' and 1 respectively as shown and connecting and 10, and being connected with the main" conductors at their other ends inany suitable manner. It will be observed that by this arrangement, the conductor strips 9 and 10 respectively, are eachcontinuous at each side of the bus bars, by which construction particular connecting strip .9

the full contact is utilized to efiect transmission of the current in either direction, a-Voiding the objections incident to separate connections for each switch. Thus, if a variable amount of current is required at any point, the full area of the-bus bar and the or is utilized to the fullest advantage.

A further advantage is in the economy of space, the large number of strips being capable of incorporation with the necessary supply conductors, while by arranging thestrips in the manner shown in horizontal and vertical planes and bending theirends downwardly and inwardly, a large number of terminal connections may be made with I ample space for inspection or manipulation,

and within comparatively limited dimen-' sions. c

The continuous strips 9 and 10, extending in opposite directions at each side of the bus'bar connections thus serveto distribute current toat least two switches by meansof 1 a, single integral conductor. By m king the joint connections as shown, the necessity of screws, studs, nuts or other usually very numerous parts employed in making connections in such work, is avoided and the distribution of the current is effected directly to the point of utilization.

. By the use of the continuous integral fiat strips and similar bus .bars and contact blades for the switches, the separate elements are capable of being used with a large contact area and in v the simplest-possible manner.

Inthe construction shown in Figs. 6, 7 and -8 the branch connections from the main supply connections or bus. bars 13 and 14 are distributed laterally in one direction only from said connections, and connected with the several pairs of blades 3, P, re-

'spectively inthe same manner generally, as

' constructions employing such types of .joint connections referred to andwhich are avoidedby my construction.-

deflected downwardly and connected with the blades 3 by an interfitting'joint as at 11 Likewise the connections from the main conductors 14* are extended in superimposed vertical planes and connected with the blades 4* by similar interfitting' joints as at 12*. In such construction, however,

' the connections from the main conductors to the first adjacent pair of blades 3,- 4, are;

by individual conductor bars 9 10 ,-respectively, while supplemental bars 9"* and. 10

respectivelyare extended ,from said first pairs of switch blades over to the next adc jacent pair and are connectedftherewith in the same manner, additional similar supplemental bars 9" andlO extend the, connection to the next adjacent pair of switch blades, which arrangement' may be extended to any desired extent. "For the purpose of tially assetforth; Y

supplementing the carrying capacityof said conductor bars, and for providing an additional br nch conductor for each particular pair of s i itch blades, orother utilizing con: nections, I provide the additional bars 9 and 10*, 9 and 10, or as many more as are necessary, according to the number of distributing or utilizing connections for the current. All of said bars9, 9", 9, and 10,

10 and 10 are connected with the main conductors 13 and 1 by an interfitting joint similar to that between bars9 and bus bars 13 or bars 10 and bus bars 14 and by capacity is provided for each pair of individualswitch blades, whether. all such blades or only one pair are being used at any. one time. a The current will be distributed through the various connections directly to the point of utilization-g the carrying capacity oft the several bar's' is such as to give the desired current under all conditions; the

same advantages of facilityfor making the connections, direct transmission, reduction of p'arts, avoiding the use of stud or bolt= connections, etc., are present and the arrangement may be used with equal advaning main conductors at one" side of the switch board.

The advantages of the construction will It will be'unders'too'd that various other adaptations or modifications of the apparatage and'success in an installation employwe may be utilized to suit the requirements of special cases or-utilizations, but-all such changes are to be;conside'red as within the fk,

scope of the'followin'g claims.-

1; In a switch board-,thecombination of an insulating base, a plurality of knife s'witchesmounted on one side of the base each having a plural blade stud extending niinals at the other side thereof, main supply ductors connected in flat interfitting relation with the main supplybars and having defiected terminals connected withthe. spaced terminals of the switch bladestudssubstan- "through the base and providing spaced ,ter-

. deflected end-portions interfitting with the an insulating base, a series of knife switches 2. In a switch board, the combination of an insulating base, a plurality of. knife switches mounted on one side of the base each having a plural blade stud extending through the base and providing spaced terminals at the other sidethereof, main supply conductor bars, and continuous integral U- shaped flat conductors connected in flat interfitting relation with the main supply bars and in flat interfitting relation with the spaced terminals of the switch blade-studs, substantially as set'forth;

3. In a switch board, the combination of an insulating base, a plurality of knife switches mounted on one side of the base each having a plural blade stud extending through the base and providing spaced terminals at the other side thereof, main supply conductor bars, and continuous. flat conductors connected in flat interfitting rela tion with the main supply bars and having spaced terminals of the switch blade studs, substantially as set forth.

i. In a switch board, the combination of mounted thereon each having. a stud composed of continuous flat plural blades ex tending'through the base and providing flat spaced terminals at the other side thereof, main supplybars, and continuous flat onepiece conductors connected in flat interfitting.

, relation with the main supply bars and having terminals deflected from the planeof the conductors and in interfittingv engagement with the spaced terminals of the switch blade studs, substantially 'as set forth.

5. In a switch-board, the combination of an insulating base, a series of knife switches mounted thereon each having a laminated stud composed of, continuous fiat plural blades extending through the base and providing fiat spaced terminals atthe other side thereof, main supply bars, and continuous integral fiat conductors connected in flat interfitting relation with the main supply bars and having terminals deflected flatwise of the conductors and in interfitting engagement with the-spaced terminals of the switch. blade studs, substantially as set forth.

6. In a switch board, the combination of an insulating base, .a series of knife switches mounted thereon each having a stud composed of -continuous fiat plural blades extending through the base and providing flat spaced terminals at the other side thereof,

main flat supply bars, and series of continuous integralfiat conductors connected in flat interfitting relation with said flat supply bars and having deflected terminal portions connected in fiat interfitting relation with the spaced'terminals of the switch blade studs and forming looped connections therefor, substantially as set forth.

7. In a switch board, the combination of an insulating base, a series of knife switbhes mounted thereon each having a pair of studs composed of continuous fiat plural blades extending through the base and providing flat spaced terminals at the other side thereof,'main flat supply bars, and series of continuous integral flat U-shaped conductors connected in flat interfitting relation with said fiat supply bars and having their terminals deflected at right angles-and in interfitting engagement. with the spaced terminals of the switch blades, substantially as set forth. 8. In a switchboard, the combinationof an insulating base, a series of knife switches mounted thereon each having a pair of studs composed of continuous flat plural blades extending througlfthe base and. providing flat spaced terminals at the other side thereof, main flat supply bars, and series of continuous integral flat U-shaped conductors connected infiat interfitting relation with said flat supply bars and having their terminals in interfitting. engagement with the spaced terminals of the switch blades, substantially as set forth. g

9. In a switch board, the combination of an insulating base, a plurality of knife switches mounted (thereon each having two pairs of blades extending through the base provided with an intervening spacer and pro viding spaced terminals at the other side of the base, main fiate supply bars, and continuous integral flat looped conductors connected in flat interfitting relation with the main supply bars having terminals in intertially as set forth,

. 11. In a switch board, the combination with amain supply bar,of' an insulating base having mounted thereon a plurality of knife switches having. laminated studs extending through the base and connected tofgether by a communicating series of integral "fiat U-sha-ped conductor bars bent flatwise extending from one stud to the other, each of said conductor bars consisting of aloop member connection between said studs, portions of said conductor bars being in parallel planes andjconnected in flat interfitting relation with and forming a part of a main supply bar, substantially as set forth.- 7 5 12 In a switch board,"the combination of terfitting relation with said eeriee of U- 1). an insulating base having mounted thereon shaped bars, substantially as set forth. a plurality of knife switches having lami-r In testimony whereof I hereuntoafiix my I nated studs extending through the base and' signature in the pr'esenceof two Witnesses. connected together'by a communicatingseris of integral flat U-shaped cohductorbars CHRISTIAN BERGMANN' bent fiatwise extending in successive-loop VV itnesses; ing arrangement from one stud to the other, C. M. CLARKE, and a main supply bar connected in flat in- CHA S. LEPLEY; 

